The Mechanical Pencil Manicure

Bobby pins seem to be the go-to dotting tool for DIY manicures—like the eyes in this Comme des Garçons mani—since they’re not just easy to handle but also easy to find lying around the house.

But for teeny dots, like the smaller metallic ones in this fizzy, under-the-sea mani, we’d suggest ditching the dopp kit standby in favor of an office staple: the mechanical pencil. It makes the best, sharpest little dots! For a step-by-step guide to the manicure and to learn how to use the mechanical pencil as a paint tool, please visit Thebeautydepartment.com.